Children's Books for Preschoolers: Pumpkins!

Let's not forget about Pumpkins! Their existence practically dominates the fall months and they make for very entertaining (and educational) stories!

The Legend of Spookely the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano
Spookely!! I just adore this sweet little square pumpkin! The legend teaches children that being different and being unique can be great characteristics. The pictures are fun and the story is lovely!

Oh My, Pumpkin Pie! by Charles Gighna
"Oh My" is right! Shapes, size, color, rhythm and rhyme...you'll find it all here! The fun illustrations carry the story, the rhyming almost plays out like a song. Little ones will have a blast pointing out things they recognize. A great story for encouraging literacy interactions!

A Pumpkin Prayer by Amy Parker
This board book story is just a little piece of precious. Simple in its content and almost quiet and sweet in sound, it is just a lovely little reminder of the beauty of fall and the beauty of God's love for each of us!

Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie. by Jill Esbaum
Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pie follows its companion Apples for Everyone in the Picture the Seasons book series. It is also filled with beautiful and festive National Geographic images and contains plenty of interesting facts about pumpkins. Learn and read about pumpkin fields, how they grow, color, size, and even how they can be carved and used in cooking. Pumpkins are more than just a really large fruit; learn all about them through these pages. A great companion for any pumpkin activity!

Sixteen Runaway Pumpkins by Dianne Ochiltree
It's harvest time at the pumpkin patch in this thrilling tale. Help Sam catch his sixteen pumpkins as they try to make a get-away! A great story for combining both math and literacy lessons. Story illustrations support counting and number recognition skills, while rhyming text keeps the story active. No doubt, little ones will want to help Sam "chase down" and "gather" all of the pumpkins!

Ten Little Pumpkins (a Sing & Read storybook)
Lively and entertaining are the first things that come to mind when I think about Ten Little Pumpkins! Follow a group of children as they go on an adventure through the pumpkin patch and then as they turn their "ten" pumpkins into festive jack-o'-lanterns. Carve and count your way through this song and dance read! Great for little ones just learning to count!

Jeb Scarecrow's Pumpkin Patch by Jana Dillon
When crows try to wreck havoc on Jeb Scarecrow's pumpkin patch, he comes up with a plan to stop them. See how Jeb uses his creativity to scare away the crows (get it? hehe) and save the annual October Harvest celebration! Beautiful and detailed imagery are represented throughout the pages, as well. This story would be a great support for lessons on cognitive thinking concepts, such as pattern matching and creative problem solving. (On a side note: I have had this book since I was a little one, and I still love it! I manage to dig it out and read it at least once every fall!)

Pinkalicious and the Pink Pumpkin by Victoria Kahn
What's with all of the orange? Surely, pumpkins could use a little pink, right?! Pinkalicious is never quite satisfied with the ordinary things of life, thus her search for the perfect "pinkerrific" pumpkin. A fun, entertaining read with lift-the-flap features on almost every page. (I'm not always a fan of lift-the-flap books, but I do like this one!)

Look for a feature on Halloween-themed books later this month! Happy Pumpkin Pickin'...and Readin'!